Automatic gas-controlling standing valve



E. W. DODGE AUTOIATIG GAS CONTROLLING STANDING VALVE May l, 1928.

Filed D.

Patented May 1, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE WDODGE, 0F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC GAS-CONTROLLING STANDING VALVE.`

Application jled December 20, 1926. Serial No. 155,980.

This invention relates to automatic gas controlling standing valves foruse in deep well construction, eitheroil or artesian.

An object of this invention is to provide a preventingthe fluid beingpumped from running back of the Vsame before the pump picks it up. e o iAnother object of this invention is to provide a standing valve whichwill increase the life of sucker'rods and which will not have a tendencyto cause them to part by breaking. A further object of this invention islto provide a standing valve which will not l5 ball up or sand up byvirtue of the fact Y thatthe liquid is kept in a continuous state ofagitation sothat no sand or solid sub stance can settle or pack ,aroundthe valve. .A further object of this invention is to provide astandingvalve which eliminates the use of a gas anchor, whichA anchor usuallyexcludes the major portion of the gas from the tubing and makes the liftvery heavy, `often calling ,for Aheavy counter- .balances which offsetthe Weight ofthefluid and rods.

A `st ill further object of this invention is to provide a standingvalve which is comparatively simple in its construction, which is not`likely to get lout oforderand Vwhich is well adapted to perform `theservice to which it isv put. A .u

lith the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifestin the following detailed description and specifically pointed out inthe appended claims,reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an`illustrative embodiment oflthe invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectionalview of the operative parts of my invention shownlinassem- `bled relation inactual use when the plunger is in theprocessgof 1making its upward stroke showing Athe standing valve closed,Fig. `2 is af similar sectional view showing lthe operative parts of myinvention j in assen'ihledrelation` in actual use in anoil Well when theplungeryis inthe process of making its downward stroke,` .Q u j `Fignisa sectional viewutaken along `the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, l i

F'g 4 is a similar sectional `view taken `along/the line` 4&4 of Fig. 1,

n 9 the plunger o.

n Fig. 5 isa `sectional View taken along the vline 5-5 of Flg. 2, 55Fig. 6 isa sectional view taken along the iline @f6 of Fig. l, and 5valve which will close mechanically, thereby Fig. 7 a sectional viewtakenlongitudinallyof the well along the line 7 7 of Fig. l. Y j 00Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein `similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the reference numeral ldesignates a `plunger bushing which threaded as atv 2 to the bottom of55 This bushing has a valve seat or recess 4 in which is seated a ball5. A plurality of apertures (eXtend through the side of this bushing andpermit fluidand gas to pass upwardly through the same pastl the ball andseat and into the plunger. The lower endof the bushing is provided witha swivel joint?, which swivel prevents any torsional strain on anypartof the standing valve.` `A lhuniping plate is Vshown at 8, which`plate vis adaptedV to seat the standing valve securely in its shoe,when the weight fof the rods and yplunger is set upon the same.

An elongated fiat rack which is `oblong in shapeis kdesignated at 9.This rack will of 89 Vcourse `vary in length` but in the ordinary typeof ,oil `well will be about 12 feet long `whenjthe well is pumping withthe average length of stroke. This rod worksthe mecha nism of the valve,unseats it when the plunger-is pulled out of the pump, and also acts as`an agltatorto keep sand or other solid -lniatter from settlingaroundthe valve. `A series of inclined teeth 10 are arranged along the fulllength of the rack. The teeth Vl() mesh 'with a gear wheell),which-wheel forms an operative part'of my standing valve. Thewheelloosely mounted upon a shaftQO and 1s threaded interiorly. `The `centralportion of the shaft 20 is provided 95 with a [worm thread f21. lVhenthe vrack `10 niovesupwardlyi as thenlunger is making its upward stroke,the wheel Dis rotated andA thehsame Aengages the worm. This engage mentis a forced engagement, such action `being `caused by the coil spring 22and washer `23 on the left ofthe shaft Q0. The wheeljthus rotatedtravels `quickly ,to the rightand releases its engagement with theworinthread. 21 compressingthe spring 24 105 on the right oftheshaftpand in this position the wheel runs idle, being disengaged fromthe worm thread until the plunger reaches the top of its stroke. Theshaft 2.0 is threadedly mounted in a shell S which 1s in turn mounted inthe working barrel of the pump. Y

lV hen the plunger' commences downward stroke, the reverse operationtakes place. The gear being rotated ,in the opposite direction isengaged by the worm thread 21, travels quickly' across the same vto theleft, compresses the coil spring 22 and idles on the smooth bearing ofthe shaft.

The gear D operates my standing valve. This valve comprises a pair ofannular cam plates and 31 provided with cam surfaces These plates arearranged in superimposed relation and the opposing surfaces of the sameare complementary. The lower surface of the upper plate 30 is providedwith a cut-outV portion 33, while the upper surface of the lower plateis provided with a Complementary projection 34: adapted to seat in thedepression 33. A reverse projection 35 is formed on the lower surface ofthe upper plate 30 and a corresponding depression 36 is formed on theupper surface of the lower plate 31, which projection 'and depressionare similarly adapted to seat one within the other. The lower plate isslidable longitudinally of the well by means of the slots 38 formed inthe valve sleeve as shown in Fig. 5 and the keys 39. These slots andkeys permit a slight longitudinal displacement of the lower plate 31.The

upper plate 30 is slidable in the valve sleeve annularly. Toward thisend an annular groove 40 is provided on the circumference of the same,and a pair of inwardly extending projections L11 engage this groove topre vent longitudinal displacement of the plate, while at the same timepermitting rotation Vof the same. A pair of projections and 46 engagethe gear D and as the same race across the worm 21 on the shaft 20,`the

' marginal portion of the upper plate is cari plate 30.

riedvwith the same, thereby permitting a small amount of annularrotation of the A disc 56 is seated in theY lower half of the shell, andwhen the upper half is screwed on the same, it is firmly locked inplace. Apertures are formed in the disc. The apertures 55 form valveseats, and the lower edge of the lower plate 31 is provided with aplurality of lugs 60, which seat in the apertures 55. Fitted to the disc56 as by threads 50, is a closed section of pipe 52, which pipe servesas a sheath for the lower end of the rack 10. This pipe additionallyprevents leakage of gas or fluid around the rack through the openingshown in Figure 6 and designated at 54. The liquid flows around thisclosed pipe' sect-ion and upwardly through the apertures 55.

The lower end of the rack 10 is provided with shoulders 70 which areriveted to the same, which shoulders serve to remove the operative partsof the standing valve from the well when removal of the same is desired.

The operation of my device is as follows: Wvhen the' plunger is makingits upward stroke, the ball 5 is seated and liquid above Y the same isforcedupwardly. As the rack 10 moves upwardly, the gear D assumes aposition on the right ofthe shaft 20 and idles thereon. The upper plate30 is thereby rotatedto the right and the lower plate 31 assumes theposition shown in Fig. 1, thereby permitting gas and fluid to passthrough the apertures 55 and fill the space between the ball 5 and theseat 4 and the standing valve. When the plunger is making its downwardstroke, the gear D travels across the shaft and rotates idly on theother side of the same. The upper plate 30 is rotated to the left. Thecam surfaces 32 force the lower plate 31 downwardly, thereby closing theapertures 55 and preventing gas and fluid from re-entering theaperturles and traveling downwardly into the we l.

As the plunger makes its up-stroke as shown in Figure 1, the ball 5automatically seats on the valve `seat and no fluid is permitted to passdownwardly beyond the same. The fluid above vthe same is forced upwardlyand the complementary surfaces on the members 31 and 32 are in registerso that the projections 60 leave the apertures 55 free. The member 31 isfree to move upwardly due to suction in the pump. The fiuid thus entersthe apertures 55 and passes through the space in the members 31 and 32between the rack 10 into the space above Ythe standing valve. As theplunger' moves downwardly, the ball 5 unseats, and the complementarysurfaces on the members 31 and 32 are thrown out of register so that theprojections 60 positively seat upon the apertures 55 and preventdownward movement of fluid through the standing valve. The fluid in thespace between the ball and standing valve thus is forced outwardlythrough the apertures 6 and past the ball 5. The next'movement of theplunger will be upwardly, and thus a repetition of this operation isperformed. y

From this description of the working of my standin valve, it will beseen that I have provi ed one which is durable and unlikely to get outof order, and which i l. In an automatic gas cont-rolling stand` ingvalve, a valve plate having an aperture therethrough, a pair ofsuperimposed plates above said valve plate, a lug on the lower of saidplates adapted to close said aperture, cam surfaces on said plates, saidsurfaces being in engagement, the lower plate being movable vertically,means for rotating said upper plate whereby said cam surfaces will force.said lower plate downwardly, thereby closing said aperture.

2. A device of the character described,

comprising a stationary valve Jlate having an aperture therethrough, apl e above said stationary plate having a projection thereon, said platebeing movable vertically, a third plate mounted for rotation above saidsecond plate and in a plane parallel thereto, said last two mentioned`plates having opposing cam surfaces whereby rotation of said lastmentioned plate will cause downward movement of said second mentionedplate for the purpose specified, and means for causing rotationalmovement of sald last mentioned plate.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a stationary valveplate having an aperture therethrough, a plate having a projectionthereon movable vertically above said first mentioned plate, a.third.plate above said second mentioned plate, said third plate beingmounted for rotation above said second mentioned plate, a shell abovesaid last mentioned plate, a shaft mounted for rotation on said shell, atoothed gear movable axially on said shaft and mounted for rotationthereon, a toothed rack engaging said toothed gear and adapted to movein a vertical direction, means whereby movement of said toothed rackwill cause longitudinal movement of said toothed gear on said shaft,said toothed gear having engagement with said last mentioned plate torotate the same and cause downward movement of said second mentionedplate for the purpose specified. p i v Ll. The combination with a pumpfor deep oil wells and the like having a working bar` rel and a plunger,of a bushing threaded to said plunger, a ball valve associated with saidbushing, a toothed rack swiveled to -said bushing, a shell mounted insaid working barrel, a shaft having a central worm thereon threadedlymounted in said shell, a toothed gear interiorly threaded, rotatable onsaid shaft, said toothed gear engaging one of ywhich is rotatably saidrack to be rotatedby the same, threads on said shaft engaging theinterior threads on said gear, a pair of superimposed plates, mountedbelow the shell, means on said plate engaging said toothed gear wherebysaid plate may be rotated, the other of said rplates being slidablelongitudinally ofithe working barrel, said plates presenting opposingcam surfaces, a lug formed on an edge of said plates, a valve platerigid with `said working barrel and adjacent said plate bearing the lug,said valve plate having an aperture therethrough adapted to be closed bysaid lug for the purpose specified.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a stationary lveplate, a pair of superimposed plates a jacent said stationary plate, oneof said superimposed plates being movable vertically, and the other ofsaid plates being movable for rotation about a vertical axis, opposingcam surfaces on said plates, a shell, a shaft mounted in said shell, atoothed gear on said shaft mounted for rotation on the same, interiorthreads on said toothed gear, threads on said shaft, a rack movablevertically, having teeth thereon, engaging said toothed gear to rotatethe same, said toothed gear engaging said plate which is movable forrotation about a vertical axis, to rotate the same as and for thepurpose specified.

6. A standing valve for deep wells, com` prising a valve plate having anaperture therethrough, a

second plate adjacent said first mentioned plate having a projectionthereon adapted to close said aperture, said second plate being movablethere being openings through both of said plates, an elongated rackextending through said open ings, means operable by movement of saidrack for moving said second plate to cause said projection to open saidaperture.

7. A standing valve for deep wells, comprising a valve plate having anaperture therethrough, a second plate adjacent said lirst mentionedplate having a projection thereon adapted to close said aperture, saidsecond plate being movable, there being openings through both of saidplates, an elongated rack extending through said openings, meansoperable by movement of said rack for moving said second plate to causesaid projection to open said aperture. and means on the lower end ofsaid rack for removing said plates from the well.

8. In a standing valve for oil wells, a valve seat, a plate verticallymovable above said valve seat, a lug on said plate, a cam on saidpla-te, a second plate mounted for rotary movement, a cam on said secondplate adapted to engage said iirst mentioned cam when rotated, to forcesaid lug into said seat to close the valve, and automatic means forrotating said second plate.

9. A, device o the character described comprising a stationary valveplate having an aperture therethrough, a plate having a projectionthereon and movable vertically above said first mentioned plate, a thirdplate above said second mentioned plate and mounted for rotation about avertical axis, a shell above said last mentioned plate, a shaftrotatably mounted upon said shell, a toothed gear mounted for axial androtary movement on said shaft, a toothed rack engaging said gear, andmeans whereby movement of said rack will cause resilient movement ofsaid gear on said shaft, said gear having an engagement with said lastmentioned plate to rotate the saine and cause downward movement of saidsecond mentionedplate for the purpose speciied.

10. A standing valve for deep Wells, comprising a stationary valve platehaving a seat therein, a Imovable plate having a projection thereonadapted to close vsaid seat, a rack extending through apertures in bothof said plates, and means operable by movement of said rack forresiliently moving said second plate to cause the projection to open theseat.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specitication.

EUGENE W. DODGE.

